Transportation of Dangerous Goods (TDG) - Classification

What is a classification?

Classification is defined in Part 1 of the TDG Regulations as: “means, for dangerous goods, as applicable, the shipping name, the primary class, the compatibility group, the subsidiary class, the UN number, the packing group, and the infectious substance category. (classification)”

Note: This document is a general overview of the TDG classification requirements. For detailed information, please see Part 2 of TDG Regulations. If the dangerous good is an explosive or radioactive material, it must be classified as required by other regulatory authorities.

Note: The information below is provided as guidance only. Always check the TDG Act and Regulations to ensure compliance.

Who is responsible for classifying a dangerous good?

The consignor is responsible for determining the classification of dangerous goods. However if the dangerous goods are explosive, the consignor must use the classification determined by the Natural Resources Canada. If the dangerous goods are radioactive, the consignor must use the classification determined by the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission. If the dangerous goods are biohazardous substances (Class 6.2), the consignor may use the classification determined by Health Canada or the Canadian Food Inspection Agency.

Who can classify my dangerous good?

Classification can be done by a consultant or a competent employee who has been trained in TDG classification. Classification is normally done by (or in consultation with):

a person capable of understanding the nature of the dangerous good (e.g., manufacturer’s professional employees such as a chemical engineer, chemist, scientist, etc.);

a person who formulates, blends or otherwise prepares mixtures or solutions of goods (e.g., chemist); or

How does the consignor determine the classification for a dangerous good?

If you are the manufacturer of the product, the product must be tested according to Part 2 of TDG Regulations. If the product has already been classified, the consignor may use the TDG classification of the manufacturer or a previous consignor. Although a consignor may also use the classification of the manufacturer or a previous consignor, the consignor is still responsible for making a proof of classificationavailable to the Minister

What is proof of classification?

A proof of classification is a document that the consignor must provide, upon request, to the federal Minister of Transport. This document may be:

a test report,

a lab report, or

a document that explains how the dangerous goods were classified.

The proof of classification must include the following information:

the date on which the dangerous goods were classified,

if applicable, the technical name of the dangerous goods,

the classification of the dangerous goods, and

if applicable, the classification method used under Part 2 of the TDG Regulations or under Chapter 2 of the UN Recommendations.

Where can I get my product analyzed for classification?

The TDG Directorate keeps a list of laboratories that provide dangerous goods analysis and classification. Note that the TDG Directorate has not examined or certified any of the laboratories. Being on this list does not mean Transport Canada or the TDG Directorate endorses or approves their services.

What information is needed for classification?

Based on the definition for classification, a competent person must determine the following before a classification can be assigned to it:

Schedule 1 will also indicate if any shipping routes are forbidden. Examples of such products are:

UN1096 SIGNALS, SMOKE which is not allowed to be transported on a ship

CHLORINE DIOXIDE which is not allowed to be transported by any route. Note that these types of products do not have a UN Number.

2. If the product is not listed by specific name in Schedule 1, check if it meets any of the criteria for the hazard classes in Part 2 - Classification. Laboratory tests are required for pure substances, solutions, and mixtures. When test results and the hazard class criteria are compared, there are three possible conclusions:

a) The laboratory test results show the product does not meet any of the criteria for the hazard classes. In this case, the product is not TDG regulated.

b) The laboratory test results show the product falls into one class and one packing group. See Section 2.4. Consult Schedule 3 for the shipping name that most precisely describes the dangerous goods. Use the shipping name and its corresponding data (UN number, class, packing group/category) in Schedule 1. For example: UN1993, FLAMMABLE LIQUID, N.O.S.

c) The laboratory test results shows the product falls into more than one class or packing group. See Section 2.5. Determine the primary class, subsidiary class(es) and packing group by using section 2.8 - Precedence of Classes in Part 2, Classification. Consult Schedule 3 for the shipping name that most precisely describes the dangerous goods. Use the shipping name and its corresponding data (UN number, class, packing group/category) in Schedule 1. For example UN3086, TOXIC SOLID, OXIDIZING, N.O.S.

How do I determine the shipping name when there are several possible shipping names?

Shipping name is the name of the dangerous good as it appears in column 2 of Schedule 1. There may be occasions when several different shipping names can be used. The shipping name is selected in the following hierarchical order:

1. Specific chemical name (e.g., acetone, sulfuric acid, etc.)

2. Chemical family name (e.g., alcohol, ketone, etc.)

3. Product usage (e.g., pesticide, adhesive, fuel, etc.)

4. Generic risk (e.g., flammable, toxic, etc.)

When the shipping name is not a specific name such as a family name, then these shipping names are followed by N.O.S. N.O.S. means Not Otherwise Specified. It is used for dangerous goods that do not have a specific entry by name in Schedule 1. For example, both gasoline and diesel are listed by their name in Schedule 1. However, if these two substances were mixed, the resulting mixture of these two products would still be regulated as a dangerous good. However, the mixture could no longer be described as "Gasoline" or "Diesel" since it would no longer have a specific name in Schedule 1. As such, the mixture would be classified as UN1993 - FLAMMABLE LIQUID, N.O.S.

If the shipping name is not a specific name, then the technical name of the most dangerous substanceneeds to be provided in brackets as required in Special Provision 16 in Schedule 2. For example, the shipping name for a mixture that consists of 80% gasoline and 20% diesel will be: FLAMMABLE LIQUID, N.O.S. (gasoline)

How do I determine the hazard class?

Once the material has been tested at a laboratory, the test results are compared to the classification criteria in Part 2. Your product may meet the criteria for one or more of the of the following nine TDG hazard classes:

Class 1, Explosives

Class 2 Gases

Class 3 Flammable Liquids

Class 4 Flammable Solids

Class 5 Oxidizing Substances, including Organic Peroxides

Class 6 Toxic and Infectious Substances

Class 7 Radioactive Materials

Class 8 Corrosive Substances

Class 9 Miscellaneous Products, Substances or Organisms

If your product meets the criteria for several hazard classes then the primary class must be determined. The primary class of dangerous goods is the hazard class that poses the highest hazard and takes precedence over any other class posing a lower hazard. It is determined with the “Precedence of Classes Table” which is provided in Part 2.

The class posing a lower hazard will be identified as a subsidiary class. More than one subsidiary class is possible. See Column 3 Schedule 1. For example, “UN3518 ADSORBED GAS, TOXIC, OXIDIZING, CORROSIVE, N.O.S.” has three hazard classes assigned to it in Schedule 1. These are the primary class 2.3 and two subsidiary hazard classes 5.1 and 8.

How do I determine the identification number / UN Number?

Once you have determined the shipping name for the dangerous good then the UN number is listed in Column 1 of Schedule 1 (see above).

Can I use a UN number that is not included in the Canadian TDG Regulations?

Yes. Subsection 2.2(4) and Parts 9 and 10 of the TDG Regulations authorize you to use the classification from the:

International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) Technical Instructions for the transport of dangerous goods by air,

International Maritime Dangerous Goods (IMDG) Code for the transport of dangerous goods by ship, or

Code of Federal Regulations (49 CFR) (U.S. Regulations) for the transportation of dangerous goods by road. Note: The NA numbers in the 49 CFR are not permitted in Canada.

How do I determine the packing group?

Many substances in Schedule 1 are assigned one or more packing groups. See Column 4 in Schedule 1. The packing group for a dangerous good is determined by using the laboratory test data and comparing it to the criteria in Part 2.For example, if you have a product for which you determined that the shipping name will be “FLAMMABLE LIQUID, N.O.S. (gasoline)” and the laboratory provided the following test result:

Initial boiling point is greater than 35°C at an absolute pressure of 101.3 kPa

Flash point less than 23°C

Using this data and comparing to that in Section 2.19, it is determined that this dangerous good needs to be assigned to Packing Group II.

How do I determine the compatibility group?

The compatibility group is only assigned for explosives. Consequently, the compatibility group will be already assigned by the by the Natural Resources Canada.

How do I assign Categories A and B for the infectious substances?

Information on how to do the assignment is provided in Section 2.36 of Part 2. Meanwhile the actual assigned category is obtained from Appendix 3 in Part 2.

How do I report the classification?

The classification is reported in the following order as per Part 3.5:

(i) the UN number,

(ii) the shipping name and, immediately after the shipping name unless it is already part of it,

(a) for dangerous goods that are subject to special provision 16, the technical name, in parentheses, of at least one of the most dangerous substances that predominantly contributes to the hazard or hazards posed by the dangerous goods, and

(b) for a liquefied petroleum gas that has not been odorized, the words “Not Odourized” or “Not Odorized” or “Sans odorisant”,

(iii) the primary class, which may be shown as a number only or under the heading “Class” or “Classe” or following the word “Class” or “Classe”,

(iv) for dangerous goods with a primary class of Class 1, Explosives, the compatibility group letter following the primary class,

(v) the subsidiary class or classes, in parentheses, which may be shown as a number only or under the heading “subsidiary class” or “classe subsidiaire” or following the words “subsidiary class” or “classe subsidiaire”, except that, for transport by aircraft or by ship, the subsidiary class or classes may be shown after the information required by this paragraph,

(vi) the packing group roman numeral, which may be shown under the heading “PG” or “GE” or following the letters “PG” or “GE” or following the words “Packing Group” or “Groupe d'emballage”, and

(vii) for dangerous goods that are subject to special provision 23, the words “toxic by inhalation” or “toxic – inhalation hazard” or “toxique par inhalation” or “toxicité par inhalation”;

Examples of descriptions of dangerous goods are:

UN1203, GASOLINE, 3, II

UN1203, GASOLINE, Class 3, PG II

UN1214, ISOBUTYLAMINE, Class 3, Subsidiary Class (8), II

UN1214, ISOBUTYLAMINE, Class 3(8), Packing Group II

Are the classifications for other modes or international shipments the same?

As per subsection 11.1(1) of the TDG Regulations, the IMDG Code must be consulted for international transport by ship.

For transport from the United States into Canada by road vehicle or railway vehicle, the shipping name used must be one that is recognized in Schedule 1 of the TDG Regulations or in the UN Recommendations.

The ICAO Technical Instructions, as well as Part 12, Air, of the TDG Regulations must be consulted for all shipments by air.

Document last updated on April 4, 2017

Add a badge to your website or intranet so your workers can quickly find answers to their health and safety questions.

What's New

Check out our What’s New listing to see what has been added or revised.

Need more help?

Tell us what you think

How can we make our services more useful for you? Contact us to let us know.

Disclaimer

Although every effort is made to ensure the accuracy, currency and completeness of the information, CCOHS does not guarantee, warrant, represent
or undertake that the information provided is correct, accurate or current. CCOHS is not liable for any loss, claim, or demand arising directly or
indirectly from any use or reliance upon the information.